I saw this online message recently. I took out the political stuff but wanted to share the basic gist of it:

The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some Poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true given the source, right?

The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed and 69 percent of the country is unhappy with the performance of the President. In essence 2/3 of the citizenry just ain’t happy and want a change. So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, ‘What are we so unhappy about?’

A. Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 Days a week?

B. Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter?

The true mark of happiness is when you can be happy no matter what your circumstances. It's when you go through disappointment, and yet still feel that spark of joy and contentment sitting quietly inside of you. It's when you can wake up and know that no matter what, you are filled with a well of spiritual peace that transcends everything. Sure, you have moments. There are times you need to cry. There are times the mind goes on its eternal gerbil wheel of worry.